Sheet-ferding mechanism



T, MYH'RUM SHEET FEEDING MECHANISM June 3, 1924.

Filed March l, 1920 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 I i3 I June 3, 1924. I 1,496,726

T. MYHRUM SHEET FEEDING MECHANISM Filed March l. 199.0 3 sheetssheet 2.Fusie 3 1924.

T..MYHR`UM SHEET FEEDING MECHANISM Filed March l. 1.920 3 Sheets-Sheet 33 l the sheet and holds the same suspended af- Patented .lune 3, i924.-

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THOMAS MYHRUM, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIG-NOR TO CONTINENTAL CAN COM-PANY, OEE SYRACUSE, NEW YORK, A. CORPORATION F NEW YOP; l

v Application led March 1, 1920. Serial No. 362,615.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS MYHRUM, a citizen of the United States,residing -at Chicago, in the county of Cook, State of.

Illinols, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inSheet-Feeding Mechanisms, 0f which the following is a description,reference being had to the accompanying drawing and to the iigures ofreference marked thereon. p

The invention relates to new and useful improvements in sheet feedingmechanisms, and more particularly to a sheet feeding mechanism wherein asheet is vseparated from a stack and is then moved edgewise into themachine operating thereon.

Prior to my invention, suction devices such as metal cups have been usedfor separating a sheet of metal from a stack of sheets, and means hasbeen provided for moving the sheet edgewise while held by the suctioncups. It has been foundin practice, however, that if a sheet is bent orribbed or very uneven, the metal 'suction cup will not make an air-tightengagement therewith, and lthe sheet will not be picked up. It is wellknown that rubber suction cups will lift the sheet from the stack, butso' far asI am aware, it is impractical to move the sheet edgewise whileheld by the rubbersuction cup.

The object of the present invention is to provide means vwhich may beassociated lwith yielding suction cups for lifting metal sheets from astack, which means engages terthe suction cup has released the same, andwhich means is so constructed that the sheet may be moved edgewise onsaid sustaining'means into ,the machine which is to operate uponthesheet. I

In the drawings 'which show byway of illustration, one embodiment of.the invention Figure 1 is an end view of a punching machine having myimproved feeding mechanism applied thereto;

Fig. 2 is a view, more or less diagrammatic, on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional View on the line 3 3 -lof Fig.2;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view on the line 4--4 of Fig. 3;'

Fig. 61 is a sectional view on the line 6-6 of lFig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view on the line 7--7 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 8 is a view showing mlore or less diagrammatically the stackholder, the

means for separating the sheets 'from the stack, the sustaining meansand the means for feeding the sheet endwise, the suction means being incontact with the sheet for lifting the same; and

Fig. 9`is a similar view but showing the sheets sustained by the magnetspreparatory to the movement of the same edgewise into the machine whichoperates upon the same. A

While the invention is directed broadly to a sheet feeding means, it isparticularly directed to feeding devices for removingmetal sheets, oneat a time, from the stack holder and for feeding the sheets after beingseparated froml the stack holder edge' wise into the machine whichoperates upon the sheets. In the present embodiment of the invention,the machine operating upon the sheets'is shown as a die punching press.The machine illustrated in Fig. 1 is substantially the same character ofmachine as that shown and described in the patent granted to Charles D.McDonald, dated .March 7, 19Q5, Number 784,415. Said machine includes asupporting base 1 having standards 2 in which a main shaft 3 rotates.'This main shaft -operatesthe punching die and also the feedingmechanism which feeds the sheets, step by step, through the machine. Thesheets are directed to the feeding mechanism by means of guiding plates4 and 5. 1

Mounted on the standards 2 is a stack holder 6, in which is placed astack of metal blanks or sheets 7. The sheets are lifted, one at a time,from the stack holder, by a reciprocating plunger 8 carrying a crosshead 9, and the sheets are fed into the receiving mouth between theguide plates 4 and 5 by feed fingers 10 carried by reciproso fardescribed are substantially the same f as those shown in the patentabove referred a valve 25 of the plunger type. .has an annular recess 26Jformed therein, and when this valve is in the position shown in Priorto my invention, metal cups weremounted upon a cross head and connectedto a suitable suction creating means' which operated to place the cupsunder vacuum after the same had been pressed against the sheet. lt hasbeen found in practice, as above noted, that it the sheet is slightlybent, or the surface is, irregular for any reason, the metal lip ofthecup would not unake contact with the sheet all the way around', and as aresult, air would be admitted under? neath the lip of the cup and thecup would therefore fail to be put under vacuum and lift the sheet fromthe stack. 'llhe present invention contemplates the use of rubbersuction cups, which,y as well known, will lift the sheet even though thesurface is irregular or bent for the reason that the flexible lip of therubbercup will conform to any irregularity in the surface of thesheetfthus making an airtight contact with the sheet so that the cup maybe placed under vacuum and the sheet lifted. lt is also well known thatthe sheets cannot be slid edgewise while suspended by rubber suctioncups, and there# fore the invention contemplates the use of magnetswhich are so associated with the idexible suction cups that' the sheetwill be transferred by the suction cups to the magnets which holds thesheet brought in contact therewith suspended after it has been releasedbythe suction cups, and then the feeding in fingers may engage the sheetand move it edgewise on the magnets into the machine to be operatedupon.

Referring more in detail to the drawings, the cross head 9 is providedas herein shown with two suction cups 15 and 16. As clearly shown inllig. 2, there are two cross heads 9, 9, two feeding in lingers 10, 1()and two reciprocating rods 11, 11, carrying the lingers. rllhe crosshead,9 is mounted on the end of the reciprocating plunger 8 and thisreciprocating plunger 8 moves endwise in the suplporting bracket 17.Each suction cup as erein shown is formed oft rubber and is held on thecross head by a threaded bolt 18rwhich is ormed with a central opening19 therethrough leading 'to a chamber 20 in the cross head. The chamber20 of the cross head may be connected by a passage 21`to a passage 22which leads to a passage 23 extending lengthwise of the plunger 8 andthis passage is connected to asuitable pipe 24 which leads to a suctioncreating means. lntermediate the passages 21 and 22 there is Said valveFig; 3, the annular recess 26 is out of register with the passages 21and 22 and therefore these passages are disconnected. When,

` however, this plunger is moved endwise to the position shpwn in Fig.8, then this annular recess jolns the two passages 21 and Iof themagnets, the va incarne 22. and thus the suction cup indicated at 16 andit the cup. is in contact with the sheet,

la vacuum will be created therein which will cause said suction cup tofirmly grip/ and hold the sheet and lift it from the stack when thecross head is moved by the recip rocation of the plunger 8. rlhe suctioncup 15 is similar in construction and is held by a threaded bolt 18which is threaded into a cross head and this bolt is provided with apassage 19 which leads to a chamber 27. rllhe chamber 27 is connectedwith the passage 28 and this passage 28 may be connected with thepassage 22. Said connection is controlled by a valve plunger 25, theannular recess 26 serving to connect these two passages 22 and 28 whenthe valve plunger is moved to the position shown in Fig. 8. 'The chamber2O is also connected to a passage 29 land the passage 29 may beconnected with a passage 30 leading to the atmosphere. Said connectionis controlled by the valve plunger 31 having an annular recess 32. Thereis a passage 33 connected with the chamber 27 and this passage also maybe connected by this valve plunger to the atmosphere either through thepassage 30 or the passage 3d. Likewise the passage 29 may be connectedto the atmosphere through this passage 3d.

From the above it will be apparent that when the cross head is moved tothe position shown in Fig. 8, the suction cups will be brought intocontact with the topmost sheet in the stack 7 and as the cross headforces the suction cups firmly into contact with the sheet, the rubbercups will yield slightly. The ends of the valve plungers 25 and 31engage the sheet just a little before the l fill suction cups and asthese plungers are moved e i endwise through the yielding of the suctioncups to the pressure of the crossy head, the annular recess 26 will bebrought into register' with the passages 21 and 28 and thus the suctioncups will be connected with the suction creating vmeans and a vacuumcreated in each cup. At this time the plunger 31 is moved suilicient soas to close the connection between the passages 29 and 33 with theatmosphere. therefore be firmly gripped and as the cross head movesoutwardly the valve plungers remain in the position to which they havebeen shifted by the sheet, the sheet will be carried by the cross headuntil it is brought into engagement with the supporting magnets whichare indicated at 35. As shown in the drawings, there are four magnets35. 'lhese magnets are of the horse shoe type and are similar inconstruction.. -The magnets are carried by a plate A3,6 which is securedby means of a bolt37 to a supporting bracket 38, there being a bracketAfor each magnet. d ust as the sheet is `beingo brought into range vevplungers 25 and |lhe sheet will k i opened to the atmosphere.

31 engage the brackets 17 and are moved endwise so that the annularrecess 26 is moved out of register With the passage 22 4 the same time,bythe movement of the plunger 31, the annular recess 82 registers Withthe passage 29 andthus each suction cup is This causes the suction cupsto releasetheir grip upon the shee,y and the sheet Will be heldsuspended by the magnets. The suction cups move just slightly outofrange of the sheet'so that it may be moved edgewise freely by thefeeding in fingers 1 0, the magnets sustaining the sheet and permittingthe edgewise movement thereof.

It will thus be seen that I have provided the means for feeding sheetswhich has all the advantages of the rubber suction cup for creating andlifting the sheet from the stack, and at the same time, has all theadvantages of the metal cups as to free edgewise movement 'of thesheets, While in contact with the4 sustaining means. y.

It is obvious, of course, that minor changes in the details ofconstruction and the varrangement of the parts may be` made Withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention as set forth in the appendedclaims.l l

Having thus described the invention, What I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters-Patent, is

l. A sheet metal feeding mechanism comprising 'a yielding suction devicefor engaging the sheet and separating the same from a stack of sheets,magnetic means for receiving the metal sheets and holding the samesuspended after the sheets are released by the suction device, and meansfor moving the suspended sheets edgevvise on said magnetic supportingmeans.

2. A sheet metal feeding mechanism comrising a reciprocating yieldingsuction cup for engaging a sheet and separating the same p from a stackof sheets, magnets for receiving the metal sheets from the reciprocatingsuction cup and holding the same suspended after the sheets are releasedby the suction cup, and means for moving the suspended sheets edgewiseon the magnets.

3. A sheet metal feeding mechanism comprising a reciprocating `crosshead, a plurality of yielding suction cups carried thereby, valves forcontrolling the connection of the suction cups to a suctlon'creatingmeans, magnets arranged to engage the sheet after "it is separatedfrom'the stack and for holding the same suspended after the suctionmeans has released the same, and means for moving the sheet endwise onthe magnet.

for' connecting said suction cup to a suction 'creating means or to theatmosphere, said valve mechanism being operated by the sheet to open thesuction cup and connect the ,suction cup to the vacuum creating means,said valve mechanism being operated by the frame of the machine forconnecting said suction cup to the atmosphere, magnets for engaging thesheet just prior to the connecting of the suction cup to the atmospherewhereby the sheetvvill be sustained by the magnets, and means forfeeding the sheet edgewise on the magnets.

5. A sheet metal feeding mechanism comprising a reciprocating plunger, aframe supporting the same, a cross head carried by the plunger, aplurality of rubber suction cups carried by the cross head,reciprocating valves mounted vin the cross head and adapted to engagethe sheet whereby the valves are shifted for closing the suction cups tothe atmosphere and for connecting the suction cups to the suctioncreating means, and means for operating said valves when the sheet hasbeen lifted from the stack for disconnecting said suction cups with thesuction creating means and for connecting the same with the atmosphere,a series of magnets arrangedto engage the sheets just prior to thereleasing ofthe same by the suction cups for sustaining the sheets, and

means for moving the sheets edgewise on the Y magnets.

6. A sheet metal feeding mechanism comlprising a stack holder, areciprocatin'gpluneither to a suction creating means or to theatmosphere, said plunger valves being disosed and constructed so thatsaid valves are shifted by the sheet when the suction cups engage thesheet for connecting the suction cups to the suction creating means anddisconnecting the -same from the atmosphere, and means for engaging saidvalve plungers for shifting the same after the sheet has been separatedfrom thelstack so that the suction cups are disconnected from thelvacuum creating means and connected to the atmosphere, a series ofmagnets arranged so as to engage the sheets just priorto the releasingof the sheet' from the suction cups and for holding the sheet susfingersmay move the sheet endwise on the magnets' and into the operatingmachine.

7 .'A conveyor' for magnetic material including a suction member 'and amagnetic port for the sheets, a receiver, and pickingl means movabletoward and froni the sheets, of stripping means arranged to strip thesheets from the picking means to sustain the same, and transfer meansfor transferring the sheets from the stripping means/to the receiver.

9. rlFhe combination With a suitable means for sustaining metallicsheets, and a ref ceiver, of a' picking means movable toward and fromthe sheets to pick the sheets suc` cessively, stripping magnets arrangedon opposite sides of the picking means for stripping the sheets from thepicking means, and means for shifting the sheets from the strippingmagnets to the receiver.

l0. lin a machine of the class described, the combination of a pluralityof suction cups adapted to pneumatically lift a sheet of material, andmeans disposed in the path of travel of said sheet to release the sheet.from said cups during the upstroke of the cups and hold said sheet 'whenreleased from the caps.x

ll. ln a machine of the class described,

the combination of a plurality of reciprocatory suction cups adapted tolift a sheet of material, and means disposed in the path of travel -of asheet lifted by the said cups forbreaking the seal between said sheetand the cups and holding said sheet when releasedfrom said cups.,

l2. ln a machine of the class described,

the combination of la sheet lifting device,

insegne means for reciprocating said device, means disposed in the pathof and above a lifted sheet for separating said lsheet from said liftingdevice and holding said sheet in position to be transferred.

1.3.'ln a machine of the class described, the combination ofreciprocatory sheet lifting apparatus, a feed channel, magnets disposedin alinement with said channel and in the path of a sheet lifted bysaidl apparatus for separating said sheet from 'the lifting apparatus'and' holding the same in alinement with said channel, and means fortrans ferring said sheet from said magnets into said channel. t y

14. ln a machine of the class described, the combination of sheetlifting apparatus, magnets adapted to engage and hold a lifted. sheet, afeed channel, and' means for transferring said sheet edgevvise acrosssaid magnets into said channel, v

l5. lm a machine of the class described, the combinationV of a magnet,means 'jor bringing a sheet of metal and said magnet into co-operativerelation, and means for rer4 moving said sheet edgewise from said net.,

16. ln a machine `of the class described, the combination of a pluralityof magnets, means for disposing a sheet of metal the magnetic field ofsaid magnets, a feed channel, and means for moving said sheettransversely of the magnets into said. channel i7. ln a machine of theclass described,

the combination of sheet lifting apparatus,

a feed channel, transferring mechanism, and stationary means forcontrolling a sheet lifted by said lifting apparatus during transferinto said channelo ln testimony whereof l affix my signature.,

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